The Torchwood Institute (more commonly referred to simply as “Torchwood”) is a fictional secret government organization that exists in the universe (Whoniverse) of the British science fiction television series ”Doctor Who”, later becoming a spin-off series in it’s own right. According the “Whoniverse” canon, the Torchwood Institute was originally established in 1879 A.D. by Queen Victoria after the events of the 2nd episode of the 2nd Dr Who revival series “Tooth & Claw” first broadcast on April 22, 2006. The Institute prime purpose was to defend the British Empire against extraterrestrial threats & Dr.

Who himself. It is later revealed in the 12th & penultimate episode of the 2nd Dr Who revival series first broadcast on July 1st 2006 titled “Army of Ghosts” that the Torchwood Institute has begun to use their findings to restore the British Empire to its former glory. To that end, the organization carried out a continually mission to acquire & reverse engineer alien technology.

According to one of the high level administrator of the Torchwood Institute in 2007 (prior to the Battle of Canary Wharf) Yvonne Hartman, “Torchwood's work was vital to the survival of the British Empire & was assured that their work would in fact lead to the restoration of the United Kingdom to the status of a world power”. Its nationalist attitude also includes refusing to use metric units. While described as "beyond the UN", the Torchwood Institute has cooperated with U.N.I.T., the Unified Intelligence Taskforce, (formerly known as the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, another fictional organization from the Whoniverse) to some extent.

There appears to have been some rapport with the Office of the Prime Minister, although it is noted by Dr Who character, Former Prime Minister Harriet Jones during “The Christmas Invasion” Dr Who Special that she was not meant to know of Torchwood’s existence. Those who have come in contact with Torchwood primarily believe it to be a Special Forces team. They appear to maintain this illusion Special Forces team by using false witnesses, or by sectioning any journalists who threaten to expose the truth, & via the use of memory altering drugs such as Retcon.

Following the Battle of Canary Wharf, which led to the destruction of Torchwood One, Captain Jack Harkness rebuild Torchwood Three (Cardiff) to become less confrontational & less secretive in honor of Doctor Who. Divisions of Torchwood: Torchwood One (London): Located & operated out of Torchwood Tower, located within One Canada Square, the tallest of the three Canary Wharf skyscrapers. The tower installations were destroyed during the Battle of Canary Wharf which took place during the 13th & final episode of the 2nd Dr Who revival series titled "Doomsday” that originally broadcasted on July 8th 2006.

There were 823 members of staff, of which only 27 were known to have survived. In the wake of the Battle of Canary Wharf, Her Majesty ordered the immediate closure of Torchwood One. Torchwood Two (Glasgow): All that is known about the Glasgow division of the Torchwood Institute is that what is described as a "very strange man" works there & that it was still active recently.

Torchwood Three (Cardiff): Torchwood Three, whose base is also known as the Hub, primarily serves as a monitoring station for the Cardiff space-Time Rift. Whereas the London branch was originally staffed by over 800 individuals, the Cardiff branch is considerably smaller & only employs a small team of experts, hired by Captain Jack Harkness & is described as a "renegade outpost". It is located beneath Roald Dahl Plass, & may be entered via an "invisible lift" in the Plass, or through a run-down Tourist Information Centre nearby.

Torchwood Three is the setting of the spin off Torchwood series. It is said by Captain Jack Harkness that the Cardiff Branch has nothing to do with London & that all links were severed. Torchwood Three known roster: Captain Jack Harkness: (Leader) whereabouts currently unknown Gwen Cooper: (police liaison, later 2nd in command) In Hiding/whereabouts currently unknown Dr Owen Harper: (medical officer) Deceased Toshiko “Tosh” Sato: (computer specialist) Deceased Ianto Jones: (administrator/General Support) Deceased Suzie Costello: (weapons specialist, former 2nd in Command) Deceased Dr Martha Jones: (UNIT liaison/medic) (on short-term assignment from U.N.I.T.) Torchwood Four (Location: Unknown): Torchwood Four is described as "missing".

It is not specified how this happened or where it may previously have been located before its disappearance. Captain Jack Harkness stated they would find it some day. In the Torch Wood novel “The Twilight Streets”, Jack says that in 1941, Torchwood Four was still missing.

In the novel “Risk Assessment”, Torchwood's immortal assessor Agnes Haversham refers to Torchwood Four's disappearance as having been something of a messy business. Torchwood India (Delhi): An Indian branch of Torchwood introduced in the radio play "Golden Age". Torchwood India was founded by Queen Victoria to find alien technology in the during the British Raj led by Eleanor, Duchess of Melrose, who maintained the branch's cover as a gentlemen's club named the Royal Connaught Club.

It was closed down by Captain Jack Harkness in 1924, when Torchwood realized the British Raj was coming to an end & all acquired alien equipment & technology was removed to Britain. In 2009, Jack and Torchwood Three trace an alien energy field to the site of Torchwood India, & discover Eleanor & the other Torchwood India agents are using a time store to prevent time passing in the Royal Connaught Club. The store is powered by taking people's potential futures, then killing them.

Torchwood Three prevent the Duchess's plan to turn the whole planet back to 1924, resulting in the time store overloading. The club members refuse to leave before the building is frozen in time. The phrase "Torchwood" is also an anagram of "Doctor Who".

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